Electrical connecting device



'Feb. 15, 1938. v H. c. ACUFF v 2,108,031

ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE Fiied Jan. 6, 1937 ATTORNEY.

25 I I I 24 Y Z a,nvvmvrox Patented Feb. 15, 1 938 UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE Henry Cecil Acufl, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application January 6, 1937, Serial No. 119,177 s scheme. on. 241-4) V This invention relates to electrical connecting devices, and has particular reference to devices of this general type adapted to be continuously disposed along the wall so as to afford an outlet 5 at any desired point.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is particularly simple and inexpensive in construction, and

' which is durable, reliable and eflicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the type mentioned wherein the casing structure consists of yieldably related parts to cause a snug contact electrically with a.plain bus bar.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth which is especially simple to assemble and install, and which may be rolled in coils, if desired, for inexpensive shipment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification pro-V Figure 1 is an isometric view, partly insection,

showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig.- 2 is a sectional view showing the device in 35 course of being assembled. I

Fig. 3 is an isometric view, partly in section, showing a modified formof the invention.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a detail of the invention.

so Fig. 5 is a view of the device in coil form.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are .bestrealized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be pro- 45 duced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, there- 50 fore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exempliiication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, III denotes a device embodying the invention, The same may include an elongated insulating means, such as a 53 one piece member ,II, having longitudinal side portions I 2, and a center portion I3 therebetween, said portions being spaced from each other to provide the longitudinal parallel passages II. The side and center portions are flexibly related to each other to permit expansibility of the pas- 5 sages H for a purpose hereinafter described. This is best realized by making the means II of a flexible composition material, especially if a one piece construction thereof is used.

The passages or slots it are continuously open 10 at one face of the member II, but are closed as shown near the bottom of the member. Disposed longitudinally within these .slots are bus bars or conductor elements I5 so related to a wall of each slot as to permit the contact prongs of a -convenl5 tional electrical connector or cap fitting to be in serted in the slots and between a wall of each slot and a conductor element I5 in wiping or frictional contact with the latter. This may be eifected by a suitablyspaced relation as between an ele- 2o ment I5 and a wall such as I6; or by a beveled or rounded cross section of the conductor element; and of course the flexibility of the member iI is likewise an aid. Without limiting the invention, and by way of illustrating a preferred embcdi-- ment thereof, the slots I4 may be longitudinally enlarged along a line spaced from the mouths of the slots at the face I1, for example, by means of grooves l8. The elements I5, which may be standard conductor wires are larger in diameter than the width of the slots I4, but less than the width at the enlargements I8, the wires being partially received in the latter as shown.

The method of making the device III will now be briefly described. The member II may be molded as a one piece construction, complete as shown. Then the wires I5 are pressed into the slots, causing expansion thereof as shown in Fig. 2, until the wires snap into the grooves I8. The device I0 is now completely assembled.

To install the device III, the same is positioned along the wall of a room in any desired position or elevation, and may be secured to the wall by screws through holes I9. The wires I5 are suitably connected into the house circuit at any desired point. Blocks 20 may be placed at the ends of the member II to close the same as shown, and these blocks may be secured to the wall by screws through the holes 2|. 7

In shipment, the device I0 may be rolled into 54) the form of ,a coil as shown at 22 for compactness, this being an important advantage.

,In principle, the flexible relation between the side and center portions I2, I3 of the member II is important, since it not only facilitates the as- 5 sembling, but acts to retain the'conductor elements IS without requiring other securement means, and, further, affords the resilience in the contacting engagement of the prongs with the elements l5. Hence no spring contacts need be used, plain straight wires l5 being thus available, and the means ll serving as the yielding as well. I

Should it be desired to hold the conductor wires I5 quite rigidly, clips or U-shaped elements 23 may be employed transversely of the member such as Ila with their arms 24 inserted into the slots Ila. These clips may be disposed several feet or more apart from each other. They consist of insulating material, such as Bakelite, and their arms may be grooved as at 25 to engage or interlock with the wires IS. The central portion I30. of the member Ila may be undercut as at 26 to receive the upper partof the clip.

A perforation at 21 will aline with a hole iii to permit a screw to hold both the clip and the member II as a unit. In all other respects the modification of Fig. 3 is like the construction of the device Iii. i

It will be understood that the device In may be made in various sizes and shapes. The material for the member I I may consist of rubber like or other material, that is semi-soft or possibly a little harder. The bus bars or' elements l5 may 30 bus bar and conductor wire being used as equivconsist of hard drawn copper wires; the term alents herein. The device I0 may be used with any standard pronged connector fitting, the slots it being deep enough to receive the same, and the spacing between the walls or surfaces 16 and the bus bars l5 being such as to cause a slight resilient expansion of the slots l4 upon inserting the said prongs, to thus effect a good electrical contact. When the prongs enter, they strike the bus bars to one side of center, and with a cam action due to the roundness of the bus bars,

move into sliding contact therewith. This action may be fed endwise into the slots and grooves by a simple sliding action. The holes i9 need agent i one piece elongated member consisting of a flexible composition insulating material, said memher having spaced longitudinal slots for receiviing at any point therealong. the contact prongs .of an electrical connector, and electrical conducnot be preformed, since holes can be drilled in the member I l wherever desired.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a' and is well adapted for practical use. i

I claim: 1. An electrical connector device including a for receiving at different points tlierealong the contact prongs of an electrical connector, electrical conductor wires in said slots disposed to contact said rongs, each slot having a lateral groove for partially receiving its conductor wire,

said means comprising a central longitudinal portion intermediate of the slots and longitudinal side portions at the outside of the slots, said portions having coaction with each other, to yieldingly resist widening of the slots, and insulator means snugly inserted in the slots in close fitting engagement with the conductor wires and serving to press them into said grooves, said slots being otherwise open to receive said contact prongs.

3. An electrical connector device including an elongated means having spaced longitudinal slots for receiving at difierent points therealong the contact prongs of an electrical connector, electrical conductor wires in said slots disposed to contact said prongs, each slot having a lateral groove for partially receiving its conductor wire, said means comprising a central longitudinal portion intermediate of the slots and longitudinal side'portions at the outside of the slots, said portions having coaction with each other to yieldingly resist widening of the slots, and insulator means having sections inserted in said slots, said sections having grooves opposed to the grooves of the respective slots and serving to engage the conductor wires, the insulator means retaining the conductor wires in the grooves of the slots to permit said contact prongs to be inserted into the grooves alongside of the conductor wires and in contact therewith.

HENRY CECIL ACUFF. 

